Bus Rapid Transit
Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority Project: served as an advisor to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) to advance a proposed highway-based Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project through the CIG program. There were several issues to be resolved in order to be approved to enter into Project Development, such as TBARTA securing status as a designated grant recipient by FTA; the eligibility of the project for Capital Investment Grants (CIG) funding as a highway-based BRT project; demonstrating legal, technical and financial capacity since TBARTA is a new transit agency; securing funding commitments from the three counties the project would serve; and, identifying project financing opportunities at proposed stations through the use of transit-oriented development. Participated in meetings with regional stakeholders such as Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Tampa Bay Partnership, the existing transit providers, and presented at Regional Transit forums in to discuss the proposed project and the actions necessary to secure CIG funding.
Seattle Madison Street BRT: represented the City of Seattle for the Madison Street Bus Rapid Transit project that completed the Small Starts project evaluation and review process and received an allocation of FY 21 funds. The project seeks a grant agreement in 2021. Provide strategic advice to the City on engaging FTA to redirect FY 17 funding intended for the City Center Loop Streetcar Project to the Madison Street BRT Project.
Jacksonville Transportation Authority Bus Rapid Transit: provided advisory services to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) as the East and Southwest Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects advanced through the Capital Investment Grants Small Starts evaluation and rating process to secure a CIG grant agreement for both projects.
Grand Rapids, Silver Line and Laker Line BRT: acted as Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program advisor and outside legal counsel for the Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project that opened for revenue service in August 2014 and provide CIG strategic advisory services for the Laker Line BRT that opened for revenue service in September 2020. Services focused on navigating the CIG Small Starts project evaluation and approval process, application of Buy America to specific project elements, and, securing FTA funding and approval for a CNG fueling facility in the project corridor.
Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit: supported the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) which was a joint powers board formed by five counties in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. As a member of CTIB, each county which agreed to adopt a sales tax to support transit investments in the region. CTIB served as regional program manager as well as providing both capital and operating support for projects, including the Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit. Jeff was brought into by CTIB to provide project advisory services. These services included include advising on the eligibility of the Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (“OBRT”) as a highway shoulder-based BRT project under the CIG Small Starts program and State of Good Repair program; and, to participating in project management oversight meetings to review the proposed project cost and schedule for each project prior to CTIB making a recommendation to dedicate funding for the project.
Northwest Corridor Bus Rapid Transit: The city of Columbus (“City”) and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (“COTA”) are jointly advancing a proposed bus rapid Transit (“BRT”) connecting the city of Columbus to Dublin, Ohio. The City is leading the initial phase of the project with COTA serving as a co-lead. Engaged by COTA to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) that will include an organizational chart and policies to guide regional decision-making from pre-Project Development (“PD”) through the PD phase of the CIG project approval process. Facilitate a discussion among the regional stakeholders relying on peer organizations and lessons learned from similar projects to lead to the development of the MOU.
Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT): Engaged to assist on the Program Management (PM) services contract for the Viers Mill Road Bus Rapid Transit, which will be a Small Starts project, and the Route 33 Bus Rapid Transit, which will be a New Starts project. Role is to assist with managing the CIG project approval process; reviewing key project documents, such as the request to enter Project Development, the Project Management Plan, project schedule and managing risk.
City of Durham: The City of Durham Department of Transportation is seeking to advance a BRT project into the CIG program that will connect Duke University, the Duke University Hospital System and downtown Durham with development opportunities while serving transit dependent riders. Role is to evaluate proposed alternatives, assist in the selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and identify the LPA to advance into the Project Development phase of the CIG program.
Light Rail/Streetcar
Southwest Light Rail (SWLRT) and Blue Line Extension (BLE): Jeff advised the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB), which is a five-country entity that provides capital funding for all Metro Transit CIG-eligible projects. Jeff advised CTIB staff and the Board on the CIG project approval process, reviewed risk assessments prepared for each transit way project that seeks CIG funding, and advised the CTIB on actions to protect the financial interests of the five counties that comprise the CTIB. He participated in risk assessments for the SWLRT and BLE, provided strategic counsel on the project schedule, project cost, and risk items that might affect both cost and schedule.
Tampa Trolley Modernization and Extension: Jeff represented HART to secure federal funding from Congress through federally-directed spending in surface transportation authorization bills and annual appropriations bills. Secured United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) approval for the final increment of funding for the Ybor Trolley building and HART headquarters. He served as an advisor to Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) on issues relating to project governance and navigating the CIG program. The proposed project to modernize and extend the trolley is now in Project Development as part of the Small Starts program.
Southwest Light Rail (SWLRT), Blue Line Extension (BLE), and Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (OBRT): Jeff represented the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB), which was a five-country entity that provides capital funding for all Metro Transit CIG-eligible projects. Jeff advised CTIB staff and the Board on the CIG project approval process, reviewed risk assessments prepared for each transit way project that seeks CIG funding, and advised the CTIB on actions to protect the financial interests of the five counties that comprise the CTIB. He is currently reviewing the risk assessments for the SWLRT, BLE, and OBRT and providing strategic counsel on the project schedule, project cost, and risk items that might affect both cost and schedule.
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA): following adoption of a one-half cent sales tax in November 2016, MARTA sought Jeff’s assistance to: (1) develop technical capacity within MARTA to understand the CIG program project development and approval process; (2) to develop criteria for establishing project priorities among several proposed projects within the boundaries of Atlanta, including expansion of the streetcar, bus rapid transit, and the Clifton Corridor LRT project; (3) participate in negotiations with the city of Atlanta to develop the project priority list; (4) work with MARTA staff to develop project recommendations to the MARTA Board; and, (5) to educate the Board regarding the CIG program, to explain the criteria selected, and support the staff to secure approval of the MARTA Board of the staff recommendations.
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) – Blue Line LRT and Blue Line LRT Extension: Jeff represented CATS through the Capital Investment Grants program approval process to secure $778 million in New Starts grants and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approvals, and served as outside legal counsel for the Full Funding Grant Agreements (FFGAs) for both projects when he was practicing law.
Beach Corridor Transit Options (Miami Beach, FL): Engaged by the city of Miami Beach (“City”) to advise on two separate projects. The first was an unsolicited proposal to construct a streetcar within the City. Role was to advise on compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act as a “minimum operable segment” and to ensure that the project would not preclude a connection with the city of Miami across Biscayne Bay. The second engagement detailed advising the Mayor of Miami Beach and Miami Beach City Council to develop a framework to evaluate several proposed transit options to cross over Biscayne Bay and connect the cities of Miami and Miami Beach as part of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan. Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) studied several alternatives including Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail/Streetcar, Monorail and Automated People Mover options to connect the two cities. Reviewed the project materials, developed a matrix to compare the various project options and prepared a report to guide the Mayor and City Council in their decision on which project alternative to support.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit – D2 Project: Engaged to develop a technical memorandum supporting the eligibility of the second tunnel in downtown under the FTA CIG Core Capacity program. The memorandum analyzed the several Transit Cooperative Research Program (“TCRP”) reports underlying the basis of the FTA guidance on measuring when a transit system was at capacity for purposes of determining eligibility for Core Capacity funding. The report surveyed the comments submitted by several other transit agencies and recommended actions to be taken by DART with FTA to support the eligibility of the D2 project.
Broward County Transit: Engaged as part of the Vertical Integrated Management Advisory Services to provide strategic advisory services in the pursuit of federal funding for the suite of projects being advanced for federal funding including all modes of transit services. Prepared a strategic plan identifying the sources of federal funding that could augment any Capital Investment Grants (CIG) for major capital investments as well as the discretionary and formula monies from other modes that could complete the elements of the Transit Development Plan developed after the passage of a one cent sales tax in 2018.
Commuter Rail
Minnesota North Star: Engaged as outside counsel for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to develop a strategy for securing approvals from the freight railroads in the proposed project corridor, identify federal funding to extend the project to the future site of Target Field and advise MnDOT on federal requirements to secure New Starts monies.
Caltrain Electrification Project: Caltrain sought to electrify the existing commuter rail line from Gilroy to San Francisco and to expand capacity by increasing the number of vehicles operating each hour on the system. Assisted Caltrain through the Federal Transit Administration CIG project approval process. Full Funding Grant Agreement was received in May 2017.
First Coast Commuter Rail, Jacksonville, FL: Engaged by Jacksonville Transportation Authority to assist JTA to develop a plan to the CIG program to secure a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for the First Coast Commuter Rail line that would connect Jacksonville and St. Augustine, FL. Prepared a CIG project roadmap for JTA with the key decision steps and the documents/materials to be submitted by JTA during the CIG project approval process.
Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Rail: Wisconsin Transit & Realty Group (WTRG) is proposing to build a commuter rail project on the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee rail line in partnership with Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). Engaged to review the proposed sponsorship agreement WTRG and WisDOT as well as provide strategic advisory services to navigate the CIG project approval process.